Folk signs for January 21: what can and cannot be done
In Russia, signs and beliefs were given special importance. They were used to determine when to sow and harvest, when to prepare for winter, get married and go on a trip. Every day of the national calendar was full of rituals and superstitions. Izvestia tells about the signs for January 21 and the church holidays that fall on this date.
Folk signs for January 21, 2026
In Russia, January 21 was Yemelyan's Day, also known as Yemelyan Winter or Yemelyany Perezimniki. This holiday was an important milestone, ending Yuletide and marking the beginning of preparations for spring. It was strictly forbidden to start any work before noon, as the people said: "See you later, Kolyada." In the afternoon, they conducted a ritual of seeing off Kolyada, burning last year's ceremonial sheaf and carrying a new one to the tallest tree, which symbolized the renewal of nature.
A special tradition was the invitation to the house of godfather and godfather, who were supposed to bring a gift to the godson — a new towel and a bar of soap for ritual bathing with a spell on health. In the evening, families gathered for gatherings, where they told fairy tales and epics, which gave rise to the saying "Meli, Emelya, your week." Dreams on the night of Yemelyan were considered prophetic and required interpretation, therefore, in order not to forget, they were retold in detail aloud immediately after waking up.
Yemelyan's ancestors paid attention to various weather signs. If it was frosty on a holiday, they understood that spring would come too late. If it was snowing, they were preparing for a rainy summer.
Other signs of the day:
- south wind — for rainy summer with frequent thunderstorms;
- fogged windows in the house — for a rapid warming;
- clear starry sky and bright moon lead to increased frosts;
- a clear, sunny day leads to a hot and dry August;
- Smoke from the chimney is spreading across the ground — it's going to get colder soon.
What not to do on January 21
A number of strict prohibitions based on folk superstitions are associated with Yemelyan's Day. Violation of these rules, according to beliefs, could bring bad luck, illness or loneliness for the whole year. Quarrels and conflicts were avoided on the holiday — it was believed that this could ruin the whole coming year.
What else can not be done on January 21
- start work before lunch — the year will pass in a rush and disorder;
- Spending a day alone — loneliness can take a long time.;
- looking in the mirror for a long time leads to loss of health and beauty;
- If you come to visit without a gift for your godson, it will lead to family discord and the child's illnesses.;
- spending money thoughtlessly leads to financial difficulties;
- Going on the road in a snowstorm can be dangerous.
What is the church holiday on January 21st?
On January 21, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Emilian, Bishop of Cyzicus, who lived in the 9th century. During the reign of the iconoclastic emperor Leo the Armenian, he openly defended the holy images, saying that questions of faith should be solved by spiritual pastors in the church, not in the palace. For this, the confessor was defrocked and sent into exile, where he died, remaining faithful to the principles of the Orthodox faith.
Also on January 21, believers remember St. Gregory of the Caves. He took monastic vows at the Kiev Caves Monastery in the 11th century under St. Theodosius. The saint devoted a lot of time to studying theological books and possessed the gift of persuasion. Robbers tried to break into his cell more than once, but Grigory managed to reason with the criminals and return them to an honest life.
One day, on the banks of the Dnieper, the monk met youths who were going to march against the Polovtsians with Prince Rostislav. The young men began to laugh at Gregory, to which he replied that they were destined to die in the water. Upon learning of this, the prince ordered the saint to be thrown into the river with a stone around his neck. But this did not cancel the prophecy — in the same year, the prince drowned, fleeing from the Polovtsian soldiers.
Prayers for January 21st
Orthodox believers pray to St. Emilian of Cyzicus and St. Gregory of Caves on January 21. They are asked for health promotion, guidance in faith, and help in difficult situations.
Prayer to St. Emilian the Confessor, Bishop of Cyzicus
"O most honorable and holy head and full of the grace of the Holy Spirit, dwelling of the Savior with the Father, great bishop, our warm intercessor, to Saint Emiliana, standing at the Throne of all Kings and enjoying the light of the consubstantial Trinity and cherubic Angels, proclaiming the trisagion hymn, and having great and unexplored boldness towards the all-merciful Master, pray for the salvation of the flock of Christ by the people Confirm the well-being of the holy churches: bishops, adorn the monks with the splendor of holiness, strengthen the monks for the feat of the good current, preserve the reigning city and all cities and countries with goodness, and keep the holy immaculate faith, pacify the whole world through your intercession, deliver us from gladness and destruction, and preserve us from the attacks of foreigners, comfort the old, guide the young, Be wise to the insane, have mercy on widows, intercede for orphans, raise up infants, return captives, free those who are weak and pray to you from all adversity and trouble through your intercession: pray for us to the All-merciful and Loving Christ our God, that on the day of His Terrible Coming He may deliver us from our suffering, and grant us the joys of the saints with all the saints. forever and ever. Amen to that."
Prayer to St. Gregory of Caves, the Wonderworker
"O holy head, Venerable Father, Most Blessed Abbot Gregory! Do not forget your poor ones to the end, but always remember us in your holy and auspicious prayers to God. Remember thy flock, which thou hast saved, and do not forget to visit thy children. Pray for us, holy Father, for your spiritual children, for you have boldness towards the Heavenly King: do not be silent for us to the Lord, and do not despise us who honor you with faith and love. Remember us who are unworthy at the throne of the Almighty, and do not stop praying for us to Christ God, for you have been given the grace to pray for us. We don't think you're dead.: For though you have passed away from us in body, you are still alive after death. Do not depart from us in spirit, keeping us from the arrows of the enemy and all the charms of demons and the machinations of the devil, our good shepherd. For even though your relics were hidden on earth, your holy soul, with Angelic hosts, Fleshless faces, and Heavenly Powers, stands at the Throne of the Almighty, rejoicing worthily. Because we truly live after death, we fall down to you and pray to you: pray to almighty God for us, for the benefit of our souls, and grant us time to repent, so that we may pass from earth to heaven unhindered, from the bitter ordeals, the demons of the princes of the air, and from eternal torment, so that we may be delivered from the Heavenly Kingdom. May we be heirs with all the righteous who have always pleased our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom all glory, honor and worship belong, with His beginningless Father, and with His All-holy, Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen to that."
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the signs of the national holiday of Midsummer Day.
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